Astros outfielder Fowler to remain home indefinitely

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The Astros center fielder was hospitalized Friday night before he was released Saturday because of gastroenteritis. The plan was to have him report to Minute Maid Park on Sunday, even if he couldn’t play right away.

Fowler instead remained at home Sunday, and will be there indefinitely. It’s unclear if he will be on the trip to Toronto, where the Astros start a three-game series with the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

“He’s at home resting, and the doctor wanted him to continue to rest,” manager Bo Porter said Sunday. “I’m not going to speak to (whether Fowler goes to Toronto). You don’t know — when you start talking about … a virus running through your body, that takes time. We don’t know how much longer it’s going to be, we just know that the doctors are treating him.”

The Blue Jays trip is the first leg of a six-game road trip that also brings the Astros to Arlington for three against the Rangers — a much more reasonable traveling distance for Fowler if he doesn’t go to Canada.

In Fowler’s absence, Jonathan Villar batted leadoff for the second straight day Sunday — and hit a late two-run homer that Porter praised as the most important of five home runs the Astros hit in a 7-4 win over the Angels.

Porter said he would play match-ups at the top of the lineup. Alex Presley and Robbie Grossman have split the center field duties so far.

The Astros made a last-minute decision to carry 13 position players instead of 12, adding Presley as an extra outfielder. That decision has paid off.

“It definitely makes a difference,” Porter said. “Had we not made that decision, it would be very difficult with everything that’s happened with Dexter the last few days here.”

Porter said there is not a fear that Fowler is infectious.

Odds and ends

Astros manager Bo Porter declined to say whether he would have made a pitching change had Chad Qualls needed to face Mike Trout as the potential winning run for the Angels on Sunday in the ninth. Trout was one batter away. “It’s almost like when you play poker and the person folds their hand,” Porter said. “I’m not going to show you my cards.” … Jarred Cosart, Monday’s scheduled starter, said in the middle of Scott Feldman’s post game interview on Sunday: “I love you, pops.” Feldman and Cosart clicked right away in spring training, a good sign for the team’s top two pitchers. Cosart said he worked on throwing his curveball for strikes since his strong debut against the Yankees.